Height gauge



March 5, 1957 J. E. HASTINGS HEIGHT GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.16, 1953 INVENTOR JAMES E. HASTINGS a 1 2 nNONQQno /m I 1 2% E 125% :5;E m ohwnnmm 7 m 3 m 3 4 S 3 ATTORNEYS March 5, 1957 J. E. HASTINGSHEIGHT GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 8 4 l, m l 1. m d M l|l 4 v 4 v 6 m4 0 4 7 E 4 4 2 2 o \4 .m rr. M3 4 mm 1/ van u 0 m M (II,45 5 m/ w 5 2 2 .m w F l w Em 4 Fig. 9

INVENTOR JAMES E. HASTINGS BY Mjm llizmwd ATTORNEYS United canoe tent-6Jam s-E. Hastings, Athol; MassJ, assigimr to T'iieiL'. s.

This invention relates to height gauges and more particularly to certainimprovements for facilitating the accurate and convenient adjustment ofthe scriber-carrying block on and along the vertically disposed bar ofthe gauge. Heretofore when making predetermined plus or minusadjustments of the block from a set position on the bar it has beennecessary to add or subtract from the set reading on the graduations theamount of adjustment desired and then move the block to the positionindicated by the resulting total. This procedure requires paper workwhich entails delay and possibility of error. The invention hereinlargely eliminates these objections and makes possible the immediate andpredetermined adjustment of the block directly from its previoussetting, thus expediting the adjustments and eliminating paper workerrors and delays. The production of an improved height gauge of compactand economical construction and simple and convenient operation forperforming these functions comprises the primary object of theinvention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a heightgauge embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a like view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3, and Figs. 69 arefour detail views of a bushing shown in Fig. 4. 1

The height gauge shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base 10 having a planebottom face 12 adapted to rest on a horizontal surface. A bar 14 fixedto the base extends vertically upward therefrom and is graduated alongits length on its front face at 16.

A block 18 is fitted to slide vertically on and along the bar and can besecured in adjusted position to the bar by a clamping screw 20. Avernier scale 22 is secured by screws 24 to the block in position tocooperate with the graduations 16. An opening 25 is provided in theblock to expose the graduations 16 and vernier 22. The block can begiven fine adjustments on the bar by a screw 26 fixed to the block andcooperating with a nut 27 thereon rotatably mounted in a block 28adapted to be fixed to the bar by a clamp screw 30. The block 18 has alaterally disposed arm 32 adapted to carry an indicator or scribingelement 34.

The height gauge above specifically described is old in the art and itsuse in making certain adjustments and settings is somewhat limited andmay result in delays and possibilities of error. When such gauge is usedto make predetermined plus or minus adjustments of the block 18 from aset position on the bar it is necessary to add to or subtract from theset reading on the graduations the amount of adjustment desired and thento move the block 2,783,542 l afented Mar.

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to the position indicated by the resulting'total. Suppose; for example,that'the block is set" to 2.025finches and it is desired-to increasethis 'by 2-.047'in'chjes. It is 'neees s'aiy' toadd 2.025 and 2047topr'oduce 4.072 and then reset the block to 4.072. Thisoperationrequires objectionable paper work and it is attended with delayand possibility of error. The improvements shown in Figs. 3-9 of thedrawings and now to be described eliminate these objections and makepossible the immediate and direct resetting of the block to the desiredposition.

The bar 14 is also graduated along its rear face at 40 and a vernierscale 42 is slidably mounted on the block to cooperate with thegraduations 40. An opening 43 is provided in the block to expose thegraduations 40 and vernier 42. The scale 42 embodies a plate graduatedalong its forward margin and provided with rack teeth 44 along its rearmargin. An adjusting knob 46 is aflixed :to the outer end of a tubularshaft having gear teeth 48 on its inner end in mesh with the rack teeth44 for adjusting the plate.

As illustrated in the drawings, the vernier plate 42 carries two studs50 slidable within a guideway 52. T he plate is supported to slide alongthe guideway by the laterally projecting portion 54 therebeneath of abushing 56 mounted in an opening in the block 18, the bushing beingslotted at 58 to receive the plate. The bushing is held in place by anut 60 threaded thereto and in contact with the block, and tightening ofthe nut is adapted to draw the portion 54 of the bushing into tightcontact with the plate and lock the plate in adjusted position. A pin 62carried by the bushing and engaged. within a bore 64 in the blockprevents rotation of the bushing. A stud 66 threads into the bushing at68 and rotatably supports the knob 46 with its gear 48 in mesh with therack teeth 44. A leaf spring 70 disposed between the plate 42 and theblock 18 provides a slight amount of friction preventing free slidingmovement of the plate within the block.

If, for example, it is desired to reset the block 18 from a fixedposition at 2.025 to a further position increased by 2.047, the knob 46is rotated to set the vernier scale 42 so that its zero readingcoincides with the nearest inch graduation on the scale 40. The block isthen moved upwardly to add the required 2.047 (scale 40) to the previoussetting. Thus the adjustment is made directly and immediately withoutpaper work and the delays and attending possibilities of error.

While I have herein illustrated specific embodiments of the inventionfor purposes of description it will be understood that other embodimentsthereof are'possible within the scope of the appended claims.- Forexample, both verniers 22 and 42 can be disposed on one and the sameface of the bar and cooperate with a single line of graduations thereonand the means for mounting and adjusting the vernier 42 can be modifiedwithin the scope of the claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gauge comprising a bar graduated along its length, a block mountedto slide on and along the bar, a bushing seated in the block, a vernierscale supported within the block between a face of the bushing and aface of the block and having graduations along one margin parallel toand in cooperating relation with the bar graduations, guideway meansSupporting the scale for sliding movement on the block longitudinally ofand parallel with the bar, means for adjusting the scale along theguideway, a nut on and threaded externally to the bushing for moving thebushing to clamp the scale between said faces, and means preventingrotation of the bushing in the block.

2. The gauge defined in claim 1 in which the means for adjusting thescale along the guideway comprises a pinion Belerenees Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thompson Aug. 16, 1910 Lenti Feb.3, 1920 Champlin Dec. 17, 1946 Mitchell Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTSFrance Feb. 22, 1908 Switzerland Ian. 29, 1910 France Dec. 27, 1911Great Britain May 12, 1943.

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